The Delaware City Schools Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame was established to recognize and honor those graduates, who through their exemplary actions and achievements reflect positively on the Delaware City Schools. This now combined Hall of Fame recognizes our alumni who have excelled in career achievement, athletics and the performing and visual arts.

2016 Hall of Fame Class

Delaware City Schools inducted six individuals into the Hall of Fame on Friday, October 7 at Hayes High School. Honorees included Dave Hackel '67, Warren Hyer '72, Frank Ruggles '85, Deborah Poling- Schooley '75, Richard “Dick” Shively '54 (posthumously) and Vincente Minnelli '21(posthumously). These outstanding individuals joined an illustrious group of 120 alumni and friends who have been previously honored.

2015 Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame

Delaware City Schools inducted six individuals to the Hall of Fame on Friday, September 18, 2015 at Hayes High School. Honorees included Noah Cowan '90, John Dewey '57, Tim Flahive '75, Linda Lukas '74, Bill Rietz '76 and Jim Schlichting '71. These outstanding individuals join an illustrious group of 114 alumni and friends who have been previously honored.

These six individuals join the 108 former honorees. Superintendent Paul Craft said, “We are proud to call these honorees alumni and friends of Delaware City Schools. It is so important to showcase individuals who have graduated from Delaware City Schools and went on to make a difference in the communities in which they live. We thank these individuals for setting a good example and pointing our current students toward excellence.”

2013 Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame

Six inducted into the DCS Hall of Fame

Photo courtesy of Scott Cubberly

Delaware City Schools inducted six individuals into a newly combined Distinguish Alumni Hall of Fame on Friday evening during a dinner and recognition ceremony prior to the Hayes football game. During the ceremony, the District recognized alumni and friends who have excelled in career achievement, athletics and the performing and visual arts.

2011 Distinguished Alumni Hall of Honor

Photos courtesy of Scott Cubberly

Four Alumni were inducted into the Distinguished Alumni Hall of Honor on October 7, 2011.Chris Geesman (1957), David Fivecoat (1989), Janet Hurst (1974), and Walter "Tom" Thomson (1956) were honored for their achievements in career and community.

Established in 2007, the purpose of the Alumni Hall of Honor is to recognize and honor district graduates who have accomplished exceptional achievements in their career and to share their actions and achievements with current students in a way that might affect their efforts and goals for the future. A permanent display honoring the Alumni Hall of Honor inductees has been established at Hayes High School near the main office.Read bios for each inductee

2009 Distinguished Alumni Hall of Honor

Photos courtesy of Scott Cubberly

Three alumni were inducted into the Distinguished Alumni Hall of Honor on October 5. Lorraine Bahrick '71, Rich Gordin '69 and Tony Heald '67 were honored for their achievements in career and community. Bahrick, a professor of psychology at Florida International University, is a respected researcher studying child development and autism. Gordin, a professor at Utah State, is a renowned sports psychologist serving Olympic teams and professional athletes. Heald has a successful law practice in Delaware and has made numerous contributions through his service to the Delaware community.

2008 Distinguished Alumni Hall of Honor

Delaware City Schools inducted four alumni into the Distinguished Alumni Hall of Honor on Monday, October 6, at Rutherford B. Hayes High School. The 2008 inductees include a cable television pioneer, successful businessmen and a distinguished professor and accomplished researcher.

Jeffrey T. Benton (1971), Christopher “C.D.” Davies (1983), Douglas H. Dittrick (1951) and Rick Lee (1969) were honored for their distinguished service to the communities and world we live in. According to Superintendent Mary Anne Ashworth, “The actions of these four people have changed the lives of millions of people.”

2007 Distinguished Alumni Hall of Honor

John "Mick" Seidl receives his award from his friend Bill Bossert.

Emily King accepts the award in honor of her sister Esther Jo King.

Christy and Anna Tull display the award given to their brother, Jim Tull.

Delaware City Schools inducted six alumni into the Distinguished Alumni Hall of Honor on Monday, October 8, at Rutherford B. Hayes High School. The 2007 inductees include a Nobel Prize winner, an international conflict resolution specialist, a physicist, the co-founder of the Little Brown Jug race, a former Presidential appointee to the National Endowment for the Arts, and an accomplished businessman and environmentalist.

William Hastings Eells (1942), Esther Jo King (1977), F. Sherwood Rowland (1943), John “Mick” Seidl (1957), Henry Clay Thomson II (1926), and James Tull (1980) were applauded for their distinguished service to the communities and world we live in.